The Sprout
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 146 April 2020
The Sprout
Issue 146, April 2020
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
5 Looking After Each Other
11 Community Fridge
15 Scouting Adventures
17 Planning Apps
19 A Topical Cartoon
21 Good Ideas for Bad Times
29 What Next at West Way?
33 Falling Apart
35 Getting Outside
39 Botley Bridges update
41 Brownies Get Thinking
42 Botley Patients Group
43 Local organizations
From the Editor
It was hard to get this month’s special edition together. We wanted to
provide a useful response to the Coronavirus Crisis, but things were
moving so fast it was like wrestling an octopus! However, the best
summary we can manage of help available locally is on page 5, and on
page 21 there’s a long list of suggestions for surviving quarantine and
staying in touch. Page 35 has some ideas for excursions by car, and the
Botley in Bloom front garden competition has been revived to give us
another reason to get outside and stay healthy (p27) without socializing.
There will be cash prizes!! The parish council has rallied round and is co-
ordinating an ever-expanding list of local support groups – details on the
back cover, where a list of useful addresses replaces all those cancelled
meetings and talks. The Community Fridge is currently operating outside
for a couple of hours every afternoon – an inspired initiative (p11), and on
page 19 we have a topical cartoon with an enigmatic ending by a six-year-
old. Feel free to send in your own creative efforts, we will welcome
everything that comes and publish all we can! We had delivery problems
since many of our cohort are over 70, and I was amazed and delighted by
the response when I asked for help on the Botley Notice Board. Thank
you so much, everyone who offered! Together we can get through this!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
A big ‘thank you’
I'd like you to print a warm thank you to all the local shops who have
been keeping Botley residents so well supplied and serviced over the
last uncertain weeks, helping to keep Botley a great place to live.
Louise Kuntzemann
Botley Bridges
I am happy to be able to reassure Sprout readers that Botley Bridges
are not losing the use of the old Children's Centre space which we rent
from Botley School, as suggested in your March issue. There was some
discussion last Summer about whether Botley School would need the
space but after a slight change of timetabling the needs of both Botley
School and Botley Bridges were met.
Botley School has always been very supportive of Botley Bridges Family
Support work and has actively helped us in promoting sessions/
enabling us to run courses, etc. We have always been very grateful to
the school for their support. The School is now an Academy under the
Acer Trust and the Trust have also been very accommodating and just
renewed our rental agreement for the next three years.
Nursery provision at Botley School has never been under threat. In 2011
the independent nursery school (Elms Road Nursery School) was
closed and nursery provision for 3- and 4-year-olds came under the
management of Botley School but still using the old nursery space.
There has been no change in this provision or the space they use.
Sue Dowe (Chair of Trustees)
Greening Botley
Please can you pass this message on to Sally Prime who wrote about
Project Solar in the last Sprout. As a direct result of her article we
contacted Project Solar and are having a battery installed to go with our
existing panels. We note in their brochure that people can claim a cash
reward if new custom comes to them via an existing client—although it
might only be relevant if we bought new panels too.
Anne Watson
Looking after each other
Now that older and vulnerable people are required to self-isolate over
the next few weeks, we need to do all we can to support them and help
others who may experience difficulties at this time. Luckily in Oxford,
there is a bustling hive of volunteers amassing to meet the challenge.
See the list below:
The Botley Notice Board (OXON) This Facebook page is the most
local online support base, dedicated to the Botley and North Hinksey
parish. As well as food delivery services, the page also advertises
teaching, general advice, and deliveries by local companies. Supporting
these local businesses is crucial at these critical times, and this is where
those at home can really help out.
Oxford Covid-19 mutual aid group Founded just two weeks ago, this
Facebook group of 2,000+ members is already committed to delivering
food, medication, general supplies and emotional support to over 40
people in need (so far) around Oxfordshire. The group are calling on all
available low-risk residents to help
out, ideally by setting up their own
mutual aid groups, for which it
provides advice.
The admin team is looking in
particular for those with ‘medical,
organising, communications, legal,
or data entry expertise.’ As well as a
link for volunteers to sign up, the
page provides a space where
favours can be requested and
responded to, making it another
good port of call for the internet
savvy.
The Oxford Hub Similarly to the
Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid group,
the Oxford Hub is another
Facebook page offering services –
supplies, dog walking, childcare –
to the housebound and overburdened. In particular, the group are
looking for ‘Street Champions,’ those willing to set up WhatsApp groups
to co-ordinate support for their local roads.
Email: hello@oxfordtogether.org
Phone: 07957 105129 (9-5pm Mon-Fri)
Botley Baptist Church As well as offering pastoral support by phone
from Rev Kalyan Das, the church also has its own platoon of
volunteers offering supplies to those in need.
Pastoral support: 07841 867967
Admin support (e.g. supplies): 07742 662668
Osney Benefice Similar support from the local Church of England
pastoral team, see page 9.
Botley and District Labour Party On top of petitioning Layla Moran
MP to ask the government to ‘freeze rent payments’ and ‘grant
mortgage holidays to those who need to self-isolate,’ local Labour Party
volunteers are again offering to help the isolated. Contact Ailsa
Naumann below if you’re interested or need a hand.
Email: ailsanaumann@hotmail.com Phone: 07715 112647
Botley Fridge Free Food daily at the Virtual Fridge outside the library –
check their Facebook page for timings .
Care packages for people in need are available during the virtual fridge
sessions, or contact riki@phonecoop.coop or 07759 135811
Independent initiatives Spontaneous street-based groups are
quickly establishing themselves and Pinnocks Way already seems to
be streaming ahead. Here’s how local resident Rosy Owen describes
the creation of the group now serving the area, ‘we dropped about
250 leaflets through doors and now have a lovely friendly WhatsApp
group of around 30 people (still growing) who are currently all
introducing themselves and saying what they are able to help each
other with.’ For those considering starting such a group, she advises
that elderly neighbours without smartphones are connected ‘to the
wider community group by getting their closest neighbours to be a link
via email/phone/notes.’ No wonder that ‘community spirit is alive and
kicking on Pinnocks Way!’
Helplines and listening services:
www.mind.org.uk www.samaritans.org www.youngminds.org.uk
*This list is not exhaustive and new initiatives will likely emerge. For
updates on this, do refer to the Parish Council website which will be
updated as these groups expand. (Details on page 25)
Want to pass the time when you’re self-isolating? Try impossible
activities like drawing the number six while rotating your leg
clockwise. Just done 10 minutes (or you could take a look at the
Clean Hands Create Facebook page (see page 23) – don’t forget to
send a photo of your efforts to the Sprout!)
Michael Jacobs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Osney Benefice
In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Church of England has
suspended all public worship in parishes, schools and chaplaincies, with
effect from 17th March until further notice, including Easter Sunday.
While services have been suspended, the ministry of the Church has
not. Our church buildings at St. Peter & St. Paul and St. Lawrence
remain open daily for private prayer and reflection; Church members will
continue to pray at home for the national situation and our community;
we will be proactive in taking our part within the community in caring for
our neighbours.
Clergy are available to offer telephone-based pastoral support to those
who request it (phone numbers on the inside back cover). There are
many resources to help us all maintain our spiritual lives and hope in
these dark times – call into one of our churches to pick up a simple
form of daily prayer for use at
home. Do visit our website for ONLINE TUITION
more information at Spanish and French
www.osneybenefice.org.uk. Secondary-school level
May God bless us all and grant Reasonable rates
us a joyful Easter celebration. Contact Defne at
The Revd. Clare Sykes MFLoxfordtutoring@ho tmail.com
The Botley Community Fridge lives on
What a crazy ten days it has been! I write this on 19 March, and things
will undoubtedly have changed again between now and when you read
this article. But the short version is that the three-year-old Botley
community fridge lives on, but temporarily in a different form. Here are
the events of the last ten days:
Mon 9 March. Food for Charities, which manages the fridge, had
agreed with the Church of St Peter and St Paul, where the fridge had
been located, that the fridge would close as soon as the first case of
coronavirus hit Oxford. The church was worried about its parishioners,
many of whom are in the government’s ‘at risk’ categories. The first
Oxford coronavirus case is announced on 8 March, and the fridge
closes on 9 March. A volunteer does a final deep-clean and we take
away all the remaining food. Hurrah, I think, we can all have a bit of a
break from the fridge. Oh hahaha!
Tue 10 March Other community fridges are asking whether they can
have the surplus food from supermarkets that we would normally get for
our fridge. But also I receive emails from two local women who
separately have the idea of distributing the food locally. We meet up
and agree to try a ‘virtual fridge’ model. I put off the other fridges.
Wed 11 March The first ‘virtual fridge’ event takes place outside the
Botley library. We lay the food out on the benches, and as people pass
by we offer it to them. Six out of seven crates of food go: success! We
plan the next fridge event for Friday.
Thur 12 March One of Food for Charities’ trustees, rings me. “I’m sure
that you’re taking all necessary coronavirus precautions with the
community fridge, but could you just talk me through what you’re
doing?” Hmm. Is “I hadn’t thought of it” an adequate response? We
end up agreeing that nobody with symptoms will go near the food,
people will keep a 1m distance from each other, and everyone who
touches the food will first put on hand sanitiser…… but where to source
this incredibly rare and valuable product? In the end, we have to buy a
5 litre bottle for £99.95 (ouch!). In the next few days I manage to sell on
3 litres to other charities at cost price, and fridge users have been very
generous with donations, so that unexpected cost has almost been
recouped.
Mori 13 March The Manna Café kindly lets us store food in the back of
the café. Most of our food
pick-ups are in the
mornings, but the virtual
fridge is run in the
afternoon by different
volunteers. It is lovely to
have a place where we
can temporarily leave the
food. Thank you Anna
and Manna!
Mon 16 March It’s been
confirmed: we will not be
able to use the new
Seacourt Hall for the
fridge – virtual or
otherwise – because of
difficulties in gaining
access and lack of space.
The hall will also probably
soon be closing due to
coronavirus. It looks like we’re stuck with outdoor events.
Since then, we have been running virtual fridge events on most days.
The fridge gets food from four supermarkets, with an average of two
deliveries per day. We get mostly bread, pastries, fruit and vegetables,
but also the odd eggs and dairy products. The fresh food is for anyone
who wants it (and puts on hand gel), as that cuts down food waste. We
also have care packages at the events for anyone who needs them.
Do please come to the virtual fridge events, assuming that they are still
running by the time you read this. They are in front of the (new) Botley
Library. The times are posted at www.foodforcharities.com/botley and
on the Botley Community Fridge Facebook site. If you would like to
make a contribution to help top up our food parcels – no more than £5
please, as that goes a long way – Food for Charities’ sort code is 30-91-
92, account no. 64415660.
We live in weird times, but it is lovely to see the community pulling
together to keep the fridge going. Riki Therivel
Scouting Adventures
The 4th Oxford have had a busy few months. A quick look at the recent
programme reveals a night hike, a Chinese Burns Night international
cooking extravaganza, evenings practising DIY skills, bike maintenance,
fire lighting, and the beavers learnt to put up tents. The Cubs have been
building ‘Kub Kars’ to race in an upcoming district competition, and
spent an engaging evening
with a representative from
the Oxford Association for
the Blind and his guide
dog.
The group has just
completed the Winter
Challenge, a sponsored
hike along the Ridgeway for
either nine or 18 miles. A
number of Beavers (6-8
year olds) pressed on for
the full 18 miles (see the
picture of their finish!). Several Scouts and Cubs have also been
rehearsing music, dance and comedy sketches for the Oxfordshire
Gang Show, putting on six
performances in Radley
College’s theatre during
half term. At the sixer and
seconder camp for older
Cubs, the Chief Scout’s
Silver Award was
presented to six of our
Cubs (holding them in the
photo) who have recently
completed all their
challenge awards
(Adventure, Outdoors,
Skills, World, Teamwork,
Team Leader & Personal). We organised a Ceilidh for the middle of
March, but have had to postpone it due to coronavirus.
We have had long waiting lists for all sections for several years, so we
were excited to welcome many young people into our new Tuesday
Beaver colony after half term, and we expect to start a second Cub
pack soon too. We have 105 young people in the group, boys and girls,
and an Explorers section – whether or not you have been involved in a
scout group before, we would be interested to hear from anyone who
would like to support us, in whatever way works for you. We can be
contacted on: mail@thefourth.org.uk
James Wynne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P20/V0443/HH 49 Turner Drive. Build single storey
front extension.
17 February
TDD: 13 April
P20/V0469/FUL
P20/V0443/HH
75 Laburnum Road. Variation of
condition 2 - Approved Plans to
application P19/V0538/FUL
18 February
Target Decision
Date: 14 April
P20/V0493/FUL
(Re-submission of
P19/V1512/FUL as
a revised scheme)
5 Toynbee Close. Demolish existing
house & erect new building with one 3-
bed flat & two 1-bed flats. Plus new
build with two 2-bed flats to rear.
19 February
TDD: 15 April
P20/V0470/HH
9 Hazel Rd. Extend the dropped kerb
to enable double driveway.
24 February
TDD: 20 April
P20/V0482/FUL
Flat 4 Chelsie House 104 West Way.
Change of use from residential house
to bed & breakfast accommodation,
demolish conservatory & build single
storey extension to the rear.
24 February
TDD: 20 April
P20/V0560/FUL
Gateways Harcourt Hill. Build 2-storey
house with double garage, drive &
hardstanding areas, new fence &
access onto Stanton Road.
25 February
TDD: 21 April
P20/V0590/HH
Retrospective
Planning
Application
51 Yarnells Hill. For rear patio (works
carried out app P17/V2719/HH) and
changes to side passage ground level
to be re-instated to original levels.
27 February
TDD: 23 April
P20/V0639/HH
27 Hazel Rd. Build single-storey front
porch & single-storey rear extension.
4 March
TDD: 29 April
Topical cartoon by a six-year-old. Thanks, Beatrix
Good Ideas for Bad Times
Covered Market: Bonners (veg people) and Fellers (organic butchers)
have stock and both do deliveries. I am told Hedges in Elms Parade are
well stocked, but they don’t deliver. Also, there is a farm just outside
Oxford called Mayfield Farm who deliver free range eggs to Oxford.
Bonners Veg: Tel 01865 242183, website www.bonnersoxford.co.uk
Fellers meat: Tel 01865 251164 www.mfeller.co.uk, sales@mfeller.co.uk
Mayfield Eggs: 01993 868584, www.mayfieldeggs.co.uk and Facebook
Jennifer Crouch
Quarantinis
There is chat on the school playground of trying out virtual social
gatherings (affectionately referred to as 'quarantini'). I've just signed up
for a free account with Zoom that will allow online meetings of up to 100
people for 40-minute blocks: https://zoom.us/signup I'm using that
platform for work and might try it for virtual coffee mornings / social
exchange in the coming weeks.
It will take about a month to see if the social distancing starting now has
a meaningful effect in slowing the virus spread. So everyone please
take extra care between now and then. Caroline
Potter
Botley Notice Board (Oxon)
Are you on Facebook? Even if you aren’t, you can still look at the Botley
Notice Board Facebook page. Just google ‘Facebook’, click on it and
enter ‘Botley Notice Board’ in the ‘Search’ box at the top of the page.
Click on it, and up it will come. It is full of helpful stuff. They are trying to
co-ordinate people who can help others, and to manage this
without posting disinformation.
If you are feeling anxious, there is a good article here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51873799
Clean Hands Create
This is another Facebook page, where people are sharing their glee at
the useful things they have made while confined to barracks. If you
have a project that you manage to complete under lockdown, do share
it with the Sprout. We will be happy to publish any photos you send us.
Local Chemists
Woodlands Pharmacy (01865 242649) in the Botley Road and Lloyds
(01865 247023) in West Way Place have a delivery service for repeat
medication. You can phone them or find them online.
Age UK Oxfordshire offers a new telephone support line for older
people. You leave a message on 01865 411288, with name and phone
number and they will get back as soon as possible. “Assistance
includes a friendly, weekly call to see how you are and to problem-solve
if you are facing practical problems.” Local Age UK co-ordinators are
Ann Collins and Natasha Fielding: 01235 849 425
Rest for the eyes
Just a reminder that if you want a
visual break from coronavirus
notices, pop in to St Peter & St
Paul's on Westway. As part of
Botley Arts' ongoing exhibitions
there, Botley's own North Hinksey
Art Group is showing a variety of
paintings. Although services have
been suspended for the moment,
the Church is open daily from 10
to 4 pm, and Sundays from 12.
Ruth Cameron
Local shops
Halfords are waiving the MOT
retest fee for anyone who,
because of Coronavirus, misses
the 10-day window to get a free
retest, following an MOT fail. Waitrose are reserving the first hour (8am
to 9am) of the shopping day for elderly and vulnerable people to visit
before the crush, Marks and Spencer have reserved the first hour on
Mondays and Thursdays for people in this situation (8 to 9am). (NHS
and Emergency workers on Tuesdays and Fridays.) (The main branch,
not the store at the railway station.) Botley Co-op priority shopping
hour for senior citizens and those who are vulnerable is Monday to
Friday 9.30–10.30am. Tap Social Movement will deliver beer and are
providing a venue for pop-up markets. See their Facebook page.
Looking out for your neighbours
Has your street set up a group to look out for your neighbours? So far
the Sprout has heard of 47 of these, and the number must be growing
every day. The Parish Council is compiling a list of all the street support
groups in the neighbourhood, with information on how to ask for help
and how to volunteer. You’ll find it on the NHPC website, where they
now have a special page with all the latest information on what help is
available around the parish, shop opening times., doctors etc. Unlike
the Sprout, it is being updated on a daily basis, so well worth a look!
https://northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/covid-19-community-hub/ If you have
something to add, please email the website manager Councillor Lorna Berrett
on lberrett.nhpc@gmail.com
New to Facebook? – a word to the wise
If you are new to Facebook, and have just opened an account for
yourself, you won’t want to be sharing your intimate conversations with
a load of strangers. How can you avoid this? Just follow this simple
step-by-step guide:
1. Click on the downwards arrow in the top right hand corner
2. Click on 'Settings' in the drop down menu
3. A new page will open with a menu on the left. Select 'Privacy'.
4. From the list of privacy settings now on the right, set these to
'Friends,' apart from the one referring to 'Friend requests,' where
'Friends of friends' is the most secure option.
5. For the most secure account, the last two options should clearly
be set to 'Only me' and 'No'.
Any questions, please get in touch. My number is: 07722 216152
Michael Jacobs
Get outside in your garden & help wildlife during covid-19!
Imagine if every garden or balcony on your street had more wildlife-
friendly features.....if all your neighbours were working towards a more
nature-friendly neighbourhood? You can do this, with Naturehood!
Naturehood is a wildlife project with community at its heart. I am the
Community Engagement Officer in Oxford, and I would like to
encourage everybody to get outside in their gardens and explore! We
would love everyone to do a little bit more for wildlife, and importantly, to
share what you do with us! Visit https://www.naturehood.uk/ sign up (it's
all free), and tell us about your garden. If you compost, have a pond,
have flowers, gaps for hedgehogs... we want to know! We have lots of
hints and tips for things you could do in your garden, and you can also
use the 'spot a species' section to let us know if you've spotted any of
our Naturehood 5! Let's use this difficult time to improve our own spaces
for wildlife, and explore the wildlife right on our doorsteps.
Chloe Dalglish
‘Botley in Bloom’
Remember that front garden competition
that used to have neighbours competing to dazzle
the world with their beautiful creations? Inspired by
Linda Losito’s article last month, and spurred by the
current crisis and the need to keep healthy and go outside
the Sprout has decided to revive Botley in Bloom.
Hopefully we’ll have the help and advice of the Parish
Council who ran the scheme for years under Briony Newport.
At the moment we’re thinking in terms of three categories:
Best Overall Front Garden
Best Car Bower
Best Vegetable Display
We quite fancy ‘Most Wildlife Friendly’, but it’s possible that that might
also equate to Most Neglected and Overgrown, which would rather
defeat the object! It would be nice to have a children’s competition –
tallest sunflower, perhaps, but that couldn’t be judged till rather later.
Meanwhile, we’re hoping we’ll be able to do the judging in June when
flowers are at their best. So get out there and get creative, and watch
this space. More news next month!
Ag MacKeith
Free newspaper delivery
Have your newspaper delivered free for the next 12 weeks
If you are having to self-isolate (or even if not) you can have your
newspaper delivered free of delivery charge under a national scheme
that covers all newspapers to which McColl's in the parade is signed up.
The scheme provides for vouchers to pay for delivery for three months,
to be redeemed at the newsagents before June 30. Ring 0800 980 6907
or go on to delivermynewspaper.co.uk
Nextdoor North Hinksey
This is s a local chat room, full of good ideas and help. You can buy and
sell (and swap) things there, and post recommendations for good
tradesmen. People already on it have 100 invitations at their disposal to
invite friends and neighbours, so if you’d like to be on it, contact the
Sprout and we’ll invite you to join.
Catholics missing Sunday mass?
This is being streamed live every Sunday at 8.30am by the Dominican
Priory in St Giles. Go to their website https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/ and
follow the links to YouTube. Hopefully they will have sorted out the
sound issues by the time you read this. Other RC churches are doing
the same, but no organized list so far. Meanwhile, there’s a list of online
Church of England services at https://anglicanmainstream.org/church-is-
still-on/
Fish and Chips
The Fishes in North Hinksey, hit as hard as everyone else, has said that
if they can get supplies of fish they will do fish and chips from the van in
the garden. Check their website for details.
Allotments going spare
The parish council has about eight
vacant plots at the moment. They
are discussing holding a rent
moratorium for this year only, to
encourage people to get
gardening.
What’s happening next at West Way?
Changes to plans for the residential block Botley Development
Company (Mace) held a public exhibition on 5th March in Seacourt Hall,
at which they revealed proposed changes to the residential Block A .
This will be on the corner where Co-op and Tesco are now. Under the
approved plans it is to be 8 storeys high and contain 120 flats. They
now propose to add an additional storey and 30 extra flats.
The height of the building will be increased by 1.5m, which will make it
30.7m high in total, which is 5.4m higher than the completed Premier
Inn block. This building, being closer to West Way, will be very dominant
in relation to the houses across the road on West Way and Elms Road.
The additional storey has been accommodated within the additional
1.5m by reducing the ceiling heights in all of the apartments. We
understand that there will be a different mix of apartment sizes, possibly
with more one-bedroom apartments replacing larger ones.
There will be no increase in car parking provision. Mace says that the
additional flats will be ‘car-free’, requiring residents to sign a pledge not
to bring cars to the site. We have strong concerns that this will be
unenforceable and will result in more parking on local streets.
A new planning application will be submitted in late March, and public
consultation by the Vale of White Horse District Council will take place.
We will be preparing our own comments on the changes, and we
encourage you to make your views known via the formal consultation.
West Way Community Concern’s opinion West Way Community
Concern’s objection to the original application raised key issues: the
development is too dense for the area, there is insufficient parking, and
the development will overshadow neighbouring houses. The addition of
an extra floor exacerbates these previously identified problems, and we
will object to the plans if these issues are not properly addressed.
This increase in height is contrary to the Botley Supplementary Planning
Document (SPD), which sets out that no building should be more than
eight storeys. The SPD also describes what would be a viable
development on the site. The current approved plans are already a
much greater density of development than that considered by the SPD,
and an increase cannot therefore be justified on grounds of viability.
The North Hinksey Neighbourhood Plan describes the housing needs
for the area, which is for more family homes; permanent affordable
housing; sheltered, assisted or flexi-care housing; shared equity, co-
ownership and limited private rental sector. (See the draft
Neighbourhood Plan at http://www.nhinkseynp.org.uk/resources/). Given
that there are already a number of completed apartment blocks and
several more in the planning stage, any further development should be
focussed on family homes and affordable housing.
The suggestion by Mace that providing 30 more flats in this block will
reduce the need for building on green field sites is simply not true. The
Vale Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan already define how and
where the housing needs for this area will be met, and they have
specific policies with respect to our local green belt.
Other questions which need to be addressed
There are other issues which need to be addressed, in the event that
the changes are recommended for approval by the planning officers.
• How many of the flats would be affordable housing? The current
planning application allowed the developer to pay a contribution of
£2m to the District Council, instead of providing affordable housing in
Botley. This arrangement could be reconsidered.
• Where would the additional
cycle storage be located?
• Would there be additional
provision for refuse storage?
• What additional contributions
towards local schools and
community leisure facilities
would be made?
We will give some guidance on
how you can comment on the
proposed changes as soon as the
Vale’s public consultation
commences. You can contact us
on westwayconcern@gmail.com or
take a look at our website
westwayconcern.wordpress.com
Mary Gill, Chair, WWCC
Falling apart
Citizens Advice can help you through relationship breakdown.
There is no storm quite like an emotional storm, and the trauma of a
separation from a loved one can be overwhelming. Some people say it
feels as if the ground is falling away beneath their feet. It helps if you
know there’s somewhere you can go right away for help: Citizens
Advice.
If you and your partner or spouse have decided that separation is
inevitable, you should try to work out the practical details between
yourselves. But bear in mind that you might eventually need to consult a
solicitor as well to enshrine your agreement in law, especially if you
have assets or children. Going to court is best regarded as a last resort.
Discuss with your ex-partner where you will live, where your children will
live, and how to split any money or belongings. If you and your partner
are too upset to talk to each other calmly, wait and talk later, or use a
mediator. If you feel threatened by your partner, get help. Call Refuge
or Women's Aid on 0808 2000 247. There is also a Men’s Advice Line
on 0808 801 0327.
If you have children with your partner, you are both responsible for the
cost of looking after them when you separate, even if you are not
married. The parent who moves out might have to pay maintenance to
the parent who looks after the children.
Consider any outstanding debts or loans that you might have, and think
about who needs to be informed about the separation. If you pay
council tax, or receive benefits or tax credits, get in touch with the
relevant people and tell them about your new status.
Citizens Advice can help you find the ground beneath your feet so you
can move on. Call Citizens Advice Adviceline on 0300 3309 042 or
come and see us in person at our office in St Aldates.
Getting outside
Pleasant diversions outdoors still are possible in the current situation of
drastically reduced socialising. There ARE outings you can safely make
together with others in your household, provided you have access to a
car (apologies to those without one):
Only a 15 minute drive from Oxford is
the Harcourt Arboretum, Oxford's own
Botanic Garden in the Countryside,
“contains the best collection of trees in
Oxfordshire, including some of the
oldest redwoods (see photo) and finest
conifer collections in the UK, set within
130 acres of picturesque landscape.”
Events all cancelled, but the Arboretum
itself is open in April from 9am to 5pm;
in May till 6pm: Nuneham Courtenay
OX44 9PX. Admission by donation.
The National Trust is opening up many
of its parks and gardens for free,
(including car parking) to keep the
nation healthy and help fight the spread
of the coronavirus, although its shops
and houses will be closed. They will try
to keep as many spaces available as
possible, but please check their website, and especially your chosen
site, for current information, as they may be overwhelmed and change
their minds. Here are a few nearby:
Badbury Woodland, Coleshill, near Swindon, SN7 7NJ (famous
for views and bluebells)
Buscot Park, Faringdon, SN7 8BU
Basildon Park, Nr Reading, RG8 9NR
Stowe Park, Nr Buckingham, MK18 5EQ
Waddesdon Manor, Nr Aylesbury, HP18 0JH
White Horse Hill, Uffington, SN7 7QJ
Cliveden, Nr Maidenhead, SL6 0HJ
Watlington Hill, Watlington OX49 5HS
Then there’s the RSPB-run Otmoor
Reserve, a “haven for wildlife in the
heart of Oxfordshire. The visitor trail
leads you alongside an expansive
floodplain grazing marsh, home to
wading birds and wildfowl all the
year round. Hedgerows, bustling
with warblers and songbirds, and the
rustling reedbed add to the
immersive experience of being on
the moor.” Open from dawn to
dusk; free entry. Otmoor Lane,
Beckley OX3 9TD
Right now is a great time of year for
birds as winter visitors slowly retreat and summer ones arrive. The first
sand martin has already been spotted. Here's a chaffinch from Otmoor's
‘Seen recently’ page:
Ruth Cameron
Botley Bridges Update—coronavirus
In view of the Prime Minister’s statement on social distancing, Botley
Bridges has made the very hard decision to close all sessions with
immediate effect.
We recognise that we are unable to control social distancing at Botley
Bridges. Children love to play together and explore with their hands and
mouths. Whilst we usually promote this exploration, we cannot control
the risk of infection. Because of the nature of our work and the fact that
families and children who attend our sessions are likely to also be in
contact with vulnerable people in the community we believe that we
should take this step.
The Health Visiting Team has closed all of their drop in sessions too.
We plan to increase our online presence with ideas for play, home
learning, advice and behaviour tips so please keep an eye on our
Facebook page and also our website at www.botleybridges.org.
Alternatively, ensure that you are signed up to receive mail chimp
updates from us (you can sign up by filling in the form on or webpage or
by contacting coordinator@botleybridges.org) If you are already signed
up for mailchimp and don’t appear
to be receiving correspondence
from us, please check your junk
folder. If you need us, contact us
and we can phone you back if
necessary.
This is a difficult time for us all and
we hope that you and your families
can keep safe.
Hayley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flood scheme – latest
Compulsory Purchase Orders have
been withdrawn as the Flood
Scheme is redesigned to
accommodate replacing the broken
railway bridge. A reprieve of up to
three years is likely.
Thinking Day at 2nd Botley Brownies
Thinking Day is always 22nd
February when Lord and Lady
Baden Powell shared their
birthday and so, on the nearest
meeting to that date, we
celebrated the world-wide family
of Guiding with some
appropriately themed action
games, as well as the difficult
Shrove Tuesday relay pancake
flapping game, which has been a
tradition within 2nd Botley
Brownies for as long as we can
remember!
As part of the new Unit Meeting
Activity Sheets (UMAS) Brown
Owl and Snowy Owl then
carefully taught the girls one at a
time how to strike a match, light a
tealight and then blow out and safely dispose of the match. We finished
the evening by renewing our promise around a world map and the
Girlguiding trefoil shape made from the tealights they lit earlier in the
meeting.
Mothering Sunday was also not forgotten so during the following
meeting the girls carefully drew large love hearts onto greetings cards
for their mothers and then using a needle and thread and a tying a
colourful bow they each attached to
the front of the card another heart.
This particular one was a 3-D love
heart uniquely personalized with
their message to their mum plus
their own individual signature
preserved forever via the power of
pyrography.
Owls at 2nd Botley Brownies
Botley Medical Centre - Coronavirus outbreak
From the Patients Participation Group
We have been in touch with the Medical Centre who have assured us of
the following:
We are committed to providing the best and safest care possible
to our patients during these difficult times.
All our doctors’ appointments have already been converted to
telephone consultations and we ask you please not to attend the
surgery in person due to the risk of quickly spreading the virus amongst
the population and the Care Workers.
We advise those who are at increased risk of severe illness from
COVID-19 to strictly follow the social distancing and hygiene measures:
if you are aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions), under 70
with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, chronic
kidney disease, chronic respiratory conditions, liver disease or a
weakened immune system and if you are pregnant.
Our Social Prescribers will contact our more vulnerable and
elderly patients to check on your more urgent needs.
We recommend drawing on support through your friends, family
and other networks. We know of many support groups springing up in
streets and neighbourhoods. Try to stay in touch with those around you
over the phone, by post, or online. Let people know how you would like
to stay in touch. This is also important for everyone’s mental well-being
We will continue posting new announcements on the practice
website, https://www.botleymedicalcentre.co.uk/ through text message
or phoning you with any update needed.
We will continue doing our utmost to offer efficient and safe care
for all of you.
If you need any advice please contact your patients participation group
team:
Sylvia Buckingham sylvbuckingham@gmail.com 01865 327739 or
07970 626443
Chris Sugden csugden@ocrpl.org 07808 297043
Anne Feather anneefeather@aol.com 07778 639366
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to
editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean Metson,
firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, cubs 6.30-8, scouts 8-9.30, Botley Baptist Hall.
Amy Cusden 07887 654386 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S. Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan
Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks
Wednesday 9.30am. Contact Briony on Ox 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-
Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Community Fridge
Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Cumnor Choral Society
Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795
054142 or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788
www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District Historical
Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.
01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or phone 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352
or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group Weds 2pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or email
emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
North Hinksey Preschool and
Childcare Clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121
voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council Colin Ryde, tel 861992, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Weds at LM pavilion, Daz on 07791 212866 or see F’book
Oxford Flood Alliance R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxfd Flower Arranging Club 4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Harmony Men's
Acappella singing group
Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall, Contact
pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Raleigh Park, Friends of raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Saturdads at
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall management
committee
Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate club 6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Walking for Health 2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.45 Botley Library.
Alan 07941 610913
West Oxford Bowls Club Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865
570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A (Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley) Liz Manson, 244175 or l iz.manson@virginmedia.com
Yoga (gentle) at WOCC
Fri 10.15 - 11.30 yogawithjacqueline@hotmail.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso tel:
07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
